Arepas Racing Stables | Literate | Thread | OPEN

     Snow cheered her friend on as she galloped, just as Diva had cheered her on, in hoped it'll give her some encouragement. Her starts are much better, and I think her pace is a bit different. Shes improved a lot from when she started training after the injury, and I'm sure the trainers will see that and realize that she's fit to start racing again soon, she thought. 

     Diva was led to the others once Hernando had slowed her down. "Now what's going on?" she asked knowing the humans wouldn't understand her. She stood by Snow, and watched as the humans were discussing things. Diva couldn't hear what they were talking about which made her even more curious. Even though she couldn't hear them, she still perked her ears in that direction while chomping on her bit like any Thoroughbred would do.

Nia
Nia, clueless, burnt out, and having made no further progress, pushed past news reporters and photographers to fetch Vinn and get her to the safety of the stable's trailer. Nia didn't trust that if Vinn could get salted once, she wouldn't again. Vinn nudged her pockets, begging for treats, and Nia laughed. "We'll go home soon... as soon as I find out who salted you. I promise Vinny." She called Vinn Vinny, because she knew it made Vinn's nose upturn. She laughed, happy with her break, and returned to the office. A few stable managers, a reporter, and the vet were waiting for her there.
...
"So you're telling me there's no way of finding this boy?" Nia asked frustrated. "I'm sorry doll. I'm afraid not. We've done everything we could think of to help." Nia sighed and thanked them for all they had figured out. A young boy had salted Vinn, and walked out with who appeared to be his father, or some man. There was no way of figuring out who either one of them was, because of the darkness in the barn. "If we figure anything else out... we'll call you right away." Nia thanked the woman once again and returned to the truck and trailer. She checked that Vinn was secured, and drove her back home. Nia, unsure of what to do, called Aliana to explain the situation. 

Vinn
Vinn watched the roads as night fell yet again, feeling tired but content. After the race, she got many treats and some fancy men with top hats even took pictures with her. Of course she stole their hats, and snorted when she did so. Now Nia was taking her back home, where her friends were waiting for her. Nia had told her they'd be back home around noon the next day, and Vinn snorted, unhappy with the long distance. When Vinn tired of watching the trees zoom past, she drifted off to sleep. 

     Snow had been taken to her stall after she was given a nice wash. She was content in eating the nice mash in her stall and drinking her fresh water. She looked at Vinn's stall, noticing that the filly was not back yet, and then looked out the stables in hopes of seeing the trailer that would bring Vinn back home. She wanted to know every detail of Vinn's race; whether they had won, is Vinn played any funny tricks, if she was happy, and she just wanted to see the mare's friendly face again. And so she waited, refusing to fall asleep, until she heard the trailer coming to a stop nearby. 

     Diva was put in the pasture, then her stall for the night. She kept thinking of the events earlier, and eventually fell asleep unlike Snow. She was tired, and she had gone around the track a few times after the first time earlier that day. In the middle of the night, Diva couldn't sleep. The moonlight had kept her up for some reason. It seemed as though her paint markings were the only things that could be seen on her. Especially for the circle that was around her eye.

Vinn
Vinn and Nia finally arrived back at the stables in the early morning hours. Nia had decided not to stop and sleep somewhere, so the duo arrived a few hours early. Vinn slept lightly until she heard the familiar sound of a barking dog. She woke quickly and stomped her hooves. She was excited to see her friends again, and get a nice long bath. Nia unloaded her and put her into her stall, and Vinn, seeing that Snow was awake, eagerly began reciting her experiences. Vinn complained a tad about the stale, salty water and what Nia found out after that, and how Vinn still won the race and took pictures with fancy men. Of course, she didn't leave out the part about her stealing the men's hats. That was the best part. 

Nia
Nia sluggishly drug herself to the stable's office to talk about the race with Aliana, and start her long day. The pairs recent win was the only thing keeping her awake, otherwise, she might have just had to pass out in the hay loft. 

     Snow whinnied eagerly as Vinn recounted her experiences. She stamped her hoof angrily on the stale saltwater part. "That little... No one would ever dare do that to me, I'd like to see them with a hoof mark on the face if they did. I can't believe he got away with it. Maybe they'll find out who did it and he'll get what he deserves. At least you're okay, right?" She listened to the rest of the story. "Congrats on winning Vinn, I never doubted you. And I would have loved to see the reaction on those men's faces when you stole their hats" She snickered. 

     Diva was sleeping when Vinn and Nia returned. She had been awake most of the night, and was exhausted. The filly was laying down in her stall unaware of their return. Diva wasn't really getting the sleep she needed, so sleeping in one morning won't hurt. Will it? Though it was nice for the filly to finally get some shut eye. Though, Diva was unaware of what will come in a few days. Of course she still dreamed of racing, and being a champion. Isn't that every racehorse's dream? To be known, to race in the big races, and to be the most beloved racehorse at the time, or even history?

Last edited on 2021-06-20 at 13:44:32 by ɦօʀֆɛɢɨʀʟ

     Snow wished Vinn goodnight, promising that they'd get another chance to talk tomorrow, and turned to Diva. "Hey. Diva" She whispered to the filly. "I'm gonna go to sleep, you should too. See you tomorrow" Snow made herself comfortable before she closed her eyes eyes. She fell asleep quickly. 

     Diva perked her ear only a bit to the sound of Snow's voice. She had fallen asleep already not even realizing Vinn was back. For the first night in awhile, she slept during the whole night without waking up once. It was nice to sleep all night, as she hadn't been sleeping well for about the past week. That morning Diva was still sleeping when Charlotte grabbed her lead rope from the tack room, and walked to her stall. She was surprised to see the filly still sleeping, and chuckled as she opened the stall door. Within a few moments, Diva woke up, and stood up as Charlotte led her out of the cramped stall. Diva was now 2 that day, which met she was no longer a filly, but a mare. 
     Charlotte groomed her quickly, then tacked her up for Hernando as he came into stable. I know something's up with you guys. She said to herself even though she knew they couldn't hear, but thought it anyways. Wait. Diva figured out what was up with them. She heard rumors from some of the humans, and the other horses. There were going to be some races here today. How did she not figure it out sooner? It all made perfectly good sense. Diva came to thinking, was she going to be racing today on her birthday?

Vinn
Vinn tossed her head obligatorily and went to sleep. She had overheard there would be a race at the stables- however she wouldn't be in it because of all her action yesterday. The filly needed a break day, and she was going to happily watch and cheer on her friends from the pasture. Vinn would make sure of it. 
When it came time for the races to start, Vinn took her delightful self to the small run right in the middle of the track. This seems like a nice spot. A few grooms came by to escort herself back to her stall, but no amount of effort could drag her away from cheering on her friends right from that exact spot. They finally gave up and Vinn whinnied in victory. She looked excitedly towards the gates, unsure of which race was first. 

Last edited on 2021-06-22 at 10:09:20 by ᴛʀᴜQᴜᴇ

     Diva laughed at Vinn as she won the battle. Hernando had tied Diva nearby Vinn. The mare was anxious. She was finally going to race, and she was anxious and excited to finally be racing again. Hernando came back, and mounted onto Diva. He wanted to do a quick run or two down the track. There were several trailers, and racehorses that were arriving. There were bays, greys, chestnuts, and blacks. Diva seemed to be the only rare colored thoroughbred being a grullo tobiano. 
     After the quick lap or two, Hernando placed Diva in the pasture. Her race wasn't until late in the evening, so she didn't need to be on the track right now since there was a race that was about to start. Diva just grazed, and watched the races one by one not wanting to waste her energy. She needed every ounce for the race. As racehorses passed by, they made fun of her. Not only for her coat, but because of the accident, and the scar that ran down her leg. She came to thinking: I may have gone through all that training, but am I really ready? I just recovered, and I know I'm the same before the accident. She thought, but she'll just have to show them. Show them she has the strength and the heart to win.

Vinn
Vinn congratulated and pep-talked Diva for the race. She saw the sullen look in her friend's eyes as other horses sneered and snickered, and Vinn called the snotty horses out on it. "Don't listen to them Diva. I know you are ready. Aliana wouldn't put you on that track if she had any doubts. You know you belong here more than anyone else. Show them that." Vinn nudged her friend and turned to watch the races. She listened to the, "and they're off.." on repeat seemingly all day. When Hernando finally led Diva away, Vinn gave her one last encouraging look and nodded. 

     "Yeah I guess. I'm just different from everyone else here. Different coat, different backstory, different life. Yeah I'm a thoroughbred, but I was always pulling heavy carts, and plowing fields. Them on the other hand. They've been on the track their whole life." she said telling facts. Diva didn't say she turned two that day because she wasn't much for birthdays even though she knew the people knew due to her records. 
     Diva walked proud like best she could to blend in when Hernando came to get her. Charlotte tacked her up, and Hernando was in his racing silk showing the stable's red and yellow stars. He mounted, and Charlotte led her to the track, as another rider grabbed Diva's reins to walk her around as she chomped on her bit, and pranced around the track. Everyone there knew about the accident, and some were glad to see her back, and some weren't. Diva could hear her race name being called by the announcer,"And there's Grey Phantom ridden by Hernando Garcia. This mare is quit a beauty with that unusual coat for a Thoroughbred. Most of you may know about the accident that happened the day after her winning her first race. Let's cheer her on for that comeback, and turning 2 today!" he kept going, and Diva felt uncomfortable listening to what he was saying. 

     Snow was led onto the track where she basked in the attention of the audience. Her name was introduced, along with her rider's. She could hear her rider muttering encouraging words to her and Snow took a glance around until she saw Vinn and Diva, whom she would be racing against along with a few others. "Happy birthday Diva" Snow told the mare, She'd heard from the stable hands as she was being tacked up that it was Diva's birthday and the filly had now become a mare. "And good luck" she said before she was whisked away to the gate.